Mosul dam, Iraq
The Mosul dam in Iraq is notable as it is founded on gypsum, a water soluble rock, typically used in plasterboard the world over.
News reports in 2017 covered the fact that the dam needed permanent maintenance to replace the gypsum rock with concrete and that had not been completed due to ISIS terrorists in the area. Leading to the headline 'Mosul Dam could collapse at any minute 'killing 1.5 million people'.
Built by Saddam Hussein to supply water, the costs of removing gypsum and replacing it would be too high, so an engineered approach was taken, requiring a permanent team of maintenance workers constantly replacing and repairing the dam.
--JC5
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Highlighting the health benefits of home improvement.
Pavilions for music, entertainment, and leisure. Book review.
Broadening our understanding of Dublin’s chequered social history.
What are those little green huts?
The charm of London's Cabmen's shelters.
Future Weather Files research tool looking for feedback.
Exploring the Colour Rendering Index.
Why it's important to find out what went wrong.
ECA reviews the shape of the construction job market.
Why proper room acoustics make a difference.
Initiative puts gas networks on the path to net zero.
WICE Woman Architectural Technologist of the Year 2019.
Traditional low-energy approaches to comfort.
Revisiting the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Ashford.
USA In-Use Version 6 is now available.
The rise of architectural barbarism.
In contentious political contexts heritage can be more fractious.
Civil engineering and the digital transformation.